Scattered

Scattered

Chris Garcia’s dad had one dying wish: That his family scatter his ashes off the coast of Cuba. Chris’s mom? She doesn’t give a crap about dying wishes. She’s vowed to never go back to Cuba again. As Chris tries to do right by his dad, he sets out to uncover the truth about a man he barely knew. Scattered is produced by WNYC Studios, home of other great podcasts including Radiolab, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and Nancy.

Episodes

October 17, 2019 3 mins

Chris Garcia’s dad had one dying wish: That his family scatter his ashes off the coast of Cuba -- the country he was born in, and the country that would break him. Chris’s mom? She doesn’t give a crap about dying wishes. She’s vowed to never go back to Cuba again. 

So for now, the ashes are sitting on a shelf in a closet, between a Paul McCartney record and a Gizmo Halloween mask. As Chris tries to do right by hi...

Mark as Played

Chris’s dad was a classy guy. Whenever he met one of his son’s girlfriends, he’d extend his hand, give her a firm handshake and say, “Soy Andrés, a tus pies.” Which means, “I’m Andres, I serve at your feet.” 

Andres carried his wife’s purse when they went out, taught Chris to throw a knuckle ball by age eight, and loved a good joke at Fidel Castro’s expense. But behind it all was a dark past that Chris was too sc...

Mark as Played
October 23, 2019 26 mins

When Andres asked the Cuban government for permission to leave the country in 1969, he got a letter with a set of instructions.

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October 30, 2019 26 mins

Was it torture, or treatment? 

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November 6, 2019 37 mins

Andres catches a break. Mr. Bible-Jesus is born. And an American dog drinks café con leche.

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November 13, 2019 33 mins

Chris confronts the box in his closet.

Follow @ScatteredPodcast for updates on the show, old photos of the fam back in Cuba, and more.

Our theme song is "Please Won't Please" from This is How You Smile by Helado Negro.

Mark as Played
November 20, 2019 36 mins

Ana puts on her hot pink visor, Chris gets heatstroke, and the Garcias say goodbye.

Follow @ScatteredPodcast for updates on the show, old photos of the fam back in Cuba, and more.

Our theme song is "Please Won't Please" from This is How You Smile by Helado Negro.

Additional song: "Cuando Salí de Cuba" performed by Celia Cruz. Courtesy of Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc. Written by Luis Aguilé. 

Special than...

Mark as Played
November 22, 2019 25 mins

Fellow comedian Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder) and Chris Garcia are members of the same sad club: they both lost their parents to Alzheimer’s. Karen tells Chris about caring for her mom, her too-real stand-up set, and how Alzheimer's is like the movie Jaws.

Mark as Played

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